Dart Flights and Shafts Guide: Shapes, Lengths and All-in-One Systems

Short answer: Dart flight shapes trade stability for speed. Big standard flights (No. 2, No. 6, kite) add drag and steady the dart; pear, slim and Ten-X shapes cut drag for a faster, flatter dart. Start with a standard flight on a midi shaft, then change one thing at a time.

By Andy Gibson · Updated 20 October 2026

What do flights and shafts actually do?

The flight is the fin at the back of the dart. It adds drag behind the barrel, which keeps the point leading and steadies the dart in the air. The shaft (also called a stem) screws into the barrel and holds the flight. Its length sets how far behind the barrel the flight sits.

Together they decide how the back half of the dart behaves: how quickly it settles after release, how steeply it drops, and the angle it lands in the board. They don't change the barrel weight on the box, but they move the balance point a little, so a new set-up can feel different in the hand as well as in the air.

Harrows' summary is a fair rule of thumb: larger flights add drag and fly a smoother arc, slimmer flights add less drag and suit a faster, flatter throw. Shorter shafts make the dart land more steeply; longer shafts flatten its entry.

What are the different dart flight shapes?

Names vary between brands, and the same name can mean a slightly different cut, so check the shape listed on each product. These are the common ones, largest first:

Sources: Target's and Harrows' flight descriptions. Harrows lists both the No. 6 and No. 2 as standard shapes; Target describes the No. 2 as the wider of the two.

Smaller flights also take up less space in the board. Three darts grouped tightly in a treble have less flight to clash with, which is one reason players who group well often move to a pear or slim shape.

Which flight shape is best?

The one that makes your darts land where you aim with your normal throw. There is no best shape in general, only a better match:

• Your darts land low or wobble on the way in: go bigger. A No. 2 or kite adds drag and lifts the back of the dart.
• Your darts land high, or the flights keep clashing: go smaller. A pear or slim flight lets the dart travel faster and flatter and takes less room in the board.
• You're not sure: stay with a No. 6 or No. 2. Harrows recommends a standard flight for anyone starting out, and flights cost little, so you can try other shapes later.

Target's advice is the same as for dart weight: experiment, and think about how you want the darts to sit in the board as well as how they fly.

Does flight thickness matter?

For durability, yes. Most flights are 100 micron; Harrows also makes 75 micron flights, which are lighter but wear faster. A thicker flight holds its shape longer as darts hit it.

Construction matters as much as thickness. A standard flight is folded into shape, and the folds weaken with use, so the flight can stop flying the same way before it looks worn. Moulded flights such as Robson Plus and Harrows Clic are formed in shape instead. If you get through flights quickly, a thicker or moulded flight is worth trying before you change anything else.

What shaft length should I use?

Start with a midi or intermediate length. Harrows recommends it as the default until your throw is consistent. From there:

• Shorter shaft: the dart lands more steeply, with the flight higher. Suits a throw that drops onto the board.
• Longer shaft: the flight has more leverage, so the dart settles quicker and lands flatter. Suits a slower throw or a heavier dart that needs more steadying.

There is no industry standard for the names, so a "short" in one brand isn't the same as in another. Harrows gives short as 25 to 34 mm, medium as 38 to 41 mm and long as 45 mm and over. Here is what each range we stock measures:

Lengths as listed on each product, October 2026. When you change brand, match the millimetres, not the name.

Nylon, polycarbonate, aluminium or carbon shafts?

• Nylon and polycarbonate are the most common and the cheapest to replace. They flex when another dart hits them rather than bending, and they're what most darts come with. Harrows calls nylon the practical choice when you're starting out.
• Aluminium is light and holds the flight firmly, but a shaft that's been hit can bend and stay bent. Check aluminium shafts for straightness now and then.
• Polycarbonate with a metal top, such as Winmau Vecta, puts a flexible body under a hard-wearing top.
• Carbon and titanium are light and rigid, and cost more.

Most shafts and barrels use the same 2BA thread, so shafts swap between brands. Rings or spring tops on some shafts help hold the flight in; flight protectors clip onto the back of the flight to stop it splitting.

What is an all-in-one flight and shaft?

An all-in-one is a flight and shaft moulded as one piece. There is no joint between them, so the flight can't work loose, turn or drop out when another dart hits it. The Target K-Flex shaft is also designed to move when it's hit, to cut down bounce-outs.

The length quoted is the shaft section, not the whole piece, so all-in-one lengths look shorter than separate shafts. Like-for-like, the finished dart ends up a similar length.

All-in-one or separate flights and shafts?

A third option sits between the two: locking systems such as Harrows Clic, where the flight clicks into its own shaft. Clic shafts need Clic flights; standard flights won't fit.

Who it suits

• Starting out: a No. 6 or No. 2 flight on a midi or intermediate nylon shaft. Cheap to replace while you find your throw.
• Flights keep falling out: an all-in-one, or a locking system such as Harrows Clic.
• Fast, flat throw: a pear or slim flight, often on a shorter shaft.
• Slow, lobbed throw or heavy darts: a No. 2 or kite on a medium shaft.
• Tight groups: a smaller flight and a flight protector to save flights from damage.

Frequently asked questions

What dart flight shape is most common?

The standard shapes, No. 6 and No. 2. Most darts are supplied with a standard flight, and most players use one.

Do flight shapes really make a difference?

Yes. A bigger flight adds drag and steadies the dart; a smaller one lets it fly faster and flatter. The difference is easy to see on the board when you change only the flight.

What shaft length should a beginner use?

A midi or intermediate length, about 37 to 41 mm depending on the brand, with a standard flight.

Do all shafts fit all darts?

Most shafts and barrels share the same 2BA thread, so shafts swap between brands. Locking systems need their own flights.

Are all-in-one flights better?

They stop flights coming loose, but you replace the whole piece when it's damaged and can't change the shape or length on its own.

How often should I change my flights?

When they're split, bent or the folds no longer hold their shape. A damaged flight stops the dart flying consistently.

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